Former Bloomington city employee faces embezzlement charges

A former Bloomington city employee is facing multiple federal embezzlement charges following an investigation into a scheme that prosecutors say cost the city at least $800,000 over the past three years.

Justin Wykoff, 43, is accused of bilking public works money by approving false invoices for construction projects that were never completed or were done by other companies, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Wykoff worked as the manager of engineering services and later as a senior project manager for the city. The alleged embezzlement acts happened from May 2011 to February of this year.

Wykoff worked with two accomplices, Roger Hardin, 51, and his son, Zachary Hardin, 25, both of Bedford, according to the U.S. attorney’s office. Prosecutors allege that the Hardins sent false invoices to the city for payment to Reliable Concrete Construction, which the Hardins owned. Some of the money the city paid was deposited into the Hardins’ personal bank account, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said they believe Wykoff received a kickback of about 33 percent of each fake invoice.

The arrests reflect U.S. Attorney Joe Hogsett’s increased efforts, begun in 2012, to investigate corruption among public officials.